Liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus



Feb. 14, 1928.

1,659,258 J. T. GREELEY ET AL LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING APPARATUSPatented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES T. GREELEY AND ORVILLE W. BRUNELL, OFNASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

LIQUID MEASURING AND Application filed April 3,

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus fortherapid and ac: curate delivery of measured volumes ot liquids,inchiding the rapid and aseptic de livery of charges oi vaccine or serumto small ampules or containers.

Another object is to provide a charge delivering or dispensingapparatus, adapted to be so adjusted that the volume of the deliveredcharges may be varied from time to time, as occasion may require.

The above-mentioned and other related objects are attained by theimprovements hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention,parts being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig ure 1, and an elevation of partsat the right of said line.

Figure 3 an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a different condition.

Figure 5 isa section on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing portions of thepiston-operating mechanism hereinafter described.

Figure 7 is a perspective view, showing the ai'itomatic stop motionhereinafter described.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing a modification.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

The drawings show an apparatus suitable for charging small ampules orother containers, such as the well known collapsible tubes, with liquidvaccine or serum. We desire it understood, however, that certainfeatures of this invention are particularly adapted to measuring oflarger volumes of liquids and discharging the same into containers.

12 designates a fixed body having a cylindrical bore 13, said body andbore forming a pump barrel. 14 designates a reciprocating piston movablein the barrel and provided with a rod 15, which is movable in a fixedguide 16.

17 designates a fixed dispensing outlet,

downward, and preferably supported by an extension of the body 12.

18 designates a valved suction conduit,

communirating with a source of liquid supply, such as a liquid reservoirand. communicatin also with the lower end portion of the pump barrel.The reservoir is located above the lower end portion of the barrel, andis connected therewith by the suction conduit 18 and an extensionthereof, such as the passage 32, hereinafter described, so that liquidflows by gravity to, and submergesthe lower end of the barrel.

20 designates a valved exhaust conduit, communicating at one end withthe end portion of the barrel with which the suction conduitcon'n'nunicates, and at its opposite end with the dispensing outlet 17.

The suction conduit 18 includes a valve seat 21 (Figures 3 and 4). Thevalve 22 of said conduit is adapted to be opened, as shown by Figure 4,by movement of liquid in the suction conduit, induced by a suctionstroke of the piston 14, and is adapted to be closed on the seat 21, asshown by Figure 3, by the force of liquid expelled from the barrel bythe exhaust stroke of the piston, a spring 23 being provided to aid inthe closing of the valve.

The exhaust conduit 20 includes a valve seat 24. The valve 25 of thisconduit is adapted to be closed on its seat, as shown by Flgi'lie d, bya spring 26, when a flow ot liquid into the barrel is induced. by thesuction stroke ol the piston. The exhaust conduit 20 and the dispensingoutlet 17 are, therefore, closed, and the suction conduit is openedduring the suction stroke, and the suction conduit 18 is closed and theexhaust conduit 20 opened during the exhaust stroke.

lVe provide operating mechanism including a reciprocating member 28,engaged with the piston-rod, and adapted to impart unvarying suction andexhaust strokes to the piston, 14;, the arrangement being such that asuction stroke draws liquid through the suction conduit 18 to thebarrel, and the following exhaust stroke expels a measured charge ofliquid through the exhaust c011- duit 20 and from the dispensing outlet17.

As gases may be drawn in with, or liberated from the liquids measured,and accumulate in the pump barrel, we provide the pump barrel with avent 29, located below and in close proximity to the piston when thelatter is at the end of its suction stroke, as shown by Figure 1.

During the initial part of the exhaust stroke, the piston ejects thegases and may eject a small amount of liquid through the vent, thelatter being closed by the piston during the major or succeeding part ofthe exhaust stroke. The expulsion of a measured charge commences whenthe vent is closed, the volume of said charge depending on theexhausting movement of the piston,

fter the closing of the vent. The ejected gases and any liquid ejectedtherewith may be utilized to agitate liquid in the reservoir 19, so thatin case the liquid is a vaccine, consisting of bodies of killed bacteriaand a saline solution in which the bodies are suspended, the suspendedmaterial may be so distributed that the number of killed bacteria ineach charge or dose remains constant. Further distribution isaccomplished by the movement of the liquid through the suction conduit.The suction and exbaust conduits are preferably formed in the body 12,as shown by F igure 1, although they may be provided by the modifiedconstruction shown by Figure 8, in which 18 designates the suctionconduit, 20 the exhaust conduit, 12 the barrel, and 19 the storagereservoir.

In the preferred embodiment of the inven-- tion the suction anddischarge conduits communicate with the barrel through a short passageor port 32, opening into one side of the barrel. r

In the modification (Figure 8) said conduits communicate with the barrelthrough an intermediate conduit portion 32, opening into an open end ofthe barrel.

The operating mechanism which includes the reciprocating head or member28, also includes a rotary shaft 35, ournaled in bearings on a frame,which supports the body 1.2, and connections between said shaft and themember 28, adapted to transmit reciprocating movements of unvaryingamplitude to said members. Said connections in this instance, include adisk 36, fixed tothe shaft, an eccentric wrist-pin 37, carried by thedisk, a rock-shaft 38, ournal-ed in hearings in standards 39,constituting members of the frame, an arm 40, fixed to the rock-shaft, arod 41, connecting the arm 40 with the wrist-- pin, arms 42, fixed tothe rock-shaft, and rods 43, connecting the arms 42 with opposite endsof the member 28.

Theshaft 35 is to be driven by an electric motor or other source ofconstant speed, the casing of which is designated by 44, and the shaftby 45 (Figure 1). Coupled 46 to the motor shaft is a shaft 47, having a.worm 48, meshingwith a worm gear 49, on the shaft The gear 49 ispreferably loose on the shaft 35, and detachably engaged therewith by aclutch mechanism including members which are normally interengaged andare automatically separated after each complete rotation of the shaftand when the piston is at the end of its suction stroke, so that afterthe piston has expelled a charge and drawn another charge .intothebarrel,'the rotation of the shaft 35 and the operation of the pumpcease, until interengagement of the clutch members is permitted by meansprovided for that purpose.

YAny so called automatic stop motion may be employed for the purposeabove stated.

Figures 1 and 7 show a suitable stop motion which ineludesa clutchmember provided by a recess or socket 50, formed in the hub of the loosegear 49, and a complemental clutch member provided by a bolt 51, carriedby a disk or sleeve 52, fixed to the shaft 35. The bolt 51 is movableendwise in a trans verse guidmvay 53, in the sleeve 52, and is pressed.by a spring 54, toward the loose gear 49, the arrangement being suchthat when the bolt is unrestrained, it is projected by the spring towardthe gear which rotates continuously, so that when the recess 50coincides with the bolt, the latter is projected into the recess, thesleeve and the shaft 35 being thus interlocked with and rotated by thegear 49.

As here shown, the bolt 51 is automatically retracted from the recess50, when the bolt reaches a given point in its orbit, by a wedge 56,formed on a bar 57, which is pivoted at 58 to a fixed support. 'Thewedge 56 rests loosely on the bottom of a peripheralgroove 52, in thesleeve 52, and is in the path of a shoulder 59 on the bolt 51, so thatwhen the shoulder, moving in the direction ofthe arrow X (Figure 7)strikes the wedge, the bolt is retracted.

The free end of the bar 57 is connected by a link 60, with the shorterarm of a lever 61. which is fulcrumcd at 62 and has a longer arm adaptedto be depressed by the operator to raise the bar 57,and release the bolt51, a spring 63 being provided to yicldingly hold the bar on the bottomof the groove 52. The bar 57 may be confined by any suitable means, in araised inoperative position, when a continuous or uninterruptedoperationof the apparatus is desired.

The arrangementdis such that the clutch members are automaticallydisconnected, as described, when the piston is at the end of. itssuction stroke, the piston beingraised.

To prevent the piston from gravitating downwardwhen the shaft 35 isloose, we provide a counterweight 64, which is preferably aweighted armfixed to the rock-shaft 38, and arranged to counterbalance the piston.

An important feature ofthe invention is an adjustable connection betweenthe piston Ill!) rod 15 and the reciprocating member 28, whereby thepiston may be longitudinally adjusted relative to said members, so thatthe limit of its exhaust or downward stroke may be varied to vary thevolume of the charge expelled during the exhaust stroke. Said connectionis preferably provided by a tapped orifice at 66 (Figure 2), in thereciprocating member 28, and a screw-threaded portion at 67, on thepiston-rod engaging the internal thread of the tapped orifice, so thatthe rotation of the rod changes the iongitudinal position of the piston.The rod is preferably provided with a knob or handle (58, whereby it maybe rotated, and with a lock-nut 69, adapted to prevent its accidentalrotation.

To determine the longitudinal adjustn'ient of the piston required forany given measure-- ment, we provide a fixed indicator which ispreferably a plate 70, fixed to the member 28, and provided with agraduated scale 71, adapted to cooperate with the knob 68.

In practice the piston is so adjusted that at the end of the suction orupward stroke, the lower end of the piston is above the vent 29, so thatgases which may accumulate in the cylinder above the liquid therein willbe expelled through the vent. The quantity of liquid expelled during theexhaust or downward stroke, depends on the extent of the downwardmovement of the piston after it has closed the vent.

In order that the portion of the piston rod 15, which is exposed betweenthe member 2% and the guide 16, may not contaminate the solution in thebarrel, we surround said portion by a flexible rubber sleeve 72, whichis impervious to air, and has air-tight connections at 73 and 7 l withthe member 28 and guide 16. An hermetic aseptic seal is thus formed,preventing access to the exposed portion of the piston-rod of externalair, which may be contaminated, so that con tamination cannot beconveyed by the rod into the barrel.

Another form of aseptic seal may be provided by an absorbent packing 75, associated with the guide 16, and saturated with a sterilizingmedium, the guide being in the form of a stuffing-box, and the packing 75 being confined by the body and gland of said box.

The air necessarily admitted to the storage reservoir 19 to replaceliquid withdrawn therefrom, may pass through a duct 76 (Figure 1),communicating with the top of the storage reservoir. The duct con tainsan electrically heated resistance coil 77, adapted to. sterilize theentering air. The duct may contain, also, a filter 78, located at theintake end of the duct.

It will be seen that when the piston is once adjusted to deliver apredetermined amount of liquid, the same amount will be delivered duringeach exhaust stroke, until the piston is readjusted, and that theaccuracy of the apparatus is not dependent on the judgment of theoperator.

The supporting frame preferably includes a base 80, and a housing 81,supported by the base, and supporting the standards 39.

The body 12, is preferably detachably connccted by screws 82, with anarm 83, sup ported by the standards 39. Provision is thus made for thedetachment from the supporting frame of all parts with which the sera,vaccine, or other liquids come in contact, so that said parts may beconvenient- 1y sterilized.

lVe claim:

1. A liquid-measuring and dispensing apparatus comprising a pumpincluding a barrel and a piston having a rod; a fixed guide for saidrod; a dispensing outlet; valved suction and exhaust conduitscommunicating' with an end portion of the barrel, the suction conduitcommunicating with a source of liquid supply and the exhaust conduitwith the dispensing outlet, and operating mechanism including areciprocating member engaged with said rod and adapted to impartunvarying suction and exhaust strokes to the piston; the arrangementbeing such that a suction stroke draws liquid through the suctionconduit to the barrel, and the following exhaust stroke expels ameasured charge of liquid from the dispensing outlet, the valves of saidconduits being adapted to close the exhaust conduit during the suctionstroke, and to close the suction conduit during the exhaust stroke, thebarrel being provided with a vent communicating with the suction conduitand located below the piston when the latter is at the end of thesuction stroke, and closed by the piston before the major part of theexhaust stroke, so that gases in the barrel are ejected therefrom duringthe initial part of the exhaust stroke, and before the expulsion of themeasured charge.

2. A liquid-measuring and dispensing apparatus, comprising a supportingframe, a body fixed to the frame and including a pump barrel, adispensing outlet, and valved suction and exhaust conduitscoinniunieating with an end portion of the barrel, the exhaust conduitcommunicating with the dis pensing outlet, a storage reservoir supportedabove the pump barrel to supply the latter with a constant source ofliquid, at all times submerging the pump barrel and communicating withthe suction conduit, said reservoir having a piston-rod guide, a pistonin said barrel having a rod movable in said guide; the barrel beingprovided with a vent communicating with the suction conduit, so thatgases and surplus liquids in the barrel are ejected into the suctionconduit during the initial part of the exhaust stroke, and are conductedby the suction all times subi'ncrging into the reservoir to agitateliquid therein.

conduit into the reservoir to agitate liquid therein. i v

3. A liquid-measuring and dispensing apparatus comprising asupporting.frame, a body fixed to the frame and including a pump barrel,a dispensing outlet, and valved suction and exhaust. conduitscommunicating with an end portion 0:13 the barrel, the exhaust conduitcommunicating with the dispensing outlet, a storage reservoir, supportedabove the pump barrel to supply the latter with a constant source ofliquid, at the pump barrel and communicating with the suction conduit,,aid reservoir having a piston-rod guide, a piston in said barrel havinga rod movable in said guide; the barrel being provided with a ventcoimminicating with the suction conduit, so that gases and surplusliquids in the barrel are ejected into the suction conduit dining theinitial part of the exhaust stroke, and are conducted by the suctionconduit 4. A liquid-measuring and dispensing apparatus, comprising afixed pump barrel, a dispensing outlet, a reciprocating piston andoperating mechanism including a reciprocating member rigidly connectedwith the piston, and means for imparting reciprocating movements ofunvarying amplitude to said member, to impart unvarying suction andexhaust strokes tothe piston, means being provided for connecting thebarrel with a source of liquid supply during a suction stroke, and withthe dispensing outlet during the exhaust stroke, so that each exhauststroke forces a measured charge through the outlet, the barrel beingprovided with a vent which is open during the initial part of theexhaust stroke, and closed by the )iston durin the succeedin art of said#3 ti 7 stroke.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

JAMES T. GREELEY. ORVILLE V. BRUNELL.

